Fluid actuated feeding and supporting leg for rock drills



May 7, 1963 3,088,530

FLUID ACTUATED FEEDING AND SUPPORTING LEG FOR ROCK DRILLS Filed June 15,1953 J. E. FEUCHT 2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 iv m n Qq m mm 1: VT 6 v N Y NW11/: r Ai 1 I 1H I C E m 3 m m mm m mm W\\M. 7 r F m mm M 9 m x w vm mmC W A mh J 2.

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J. E. FEUCHT May 7, 1963 FLUID ACTUATED FEEDING AND SUPPORTING LEG FORROCK DRILLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1955 INVENTOR. JACOB E.FEUCHT ATTORNEY 3,088,530 FLUID ACTUATED FEEDING AND SUPPORTING LEG FORROCK DRILLS Jacob E. Feucht, Garfield Heights, Ohio, assignor, by

mesue assignments, to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed June 15, 1953, Ser. No. 361,630 2 Claims. (Cl.175-124) drill with an air feed leg support through which the drill Ycan :be used for drilling holes in directions and positions heretoforepossible with rock drills of the drifter, sinker and stoper types.

Another object of this invention is to equip a rock drill with a feedleg which will operate smoothly and relieve the operator from the shocksand vibrations to which he is normally subjected when operating a handheld rock drill.

Another object of the invention is to produce a feed leg which canreadily be connected to the rock drill without necessitating the use ofcomplicated and costly clamping devices.

A further object of the invention is to supply the actuating fluid tothe feed leg directly from the rock drill, thereby making it possible tosupply motive fluid to the drilling motor and feed leg through a singleconduit or hose.

A still further object of this invention is to locate the feed legcontrolling valve within the rock drill proper where it is easilyaccessible by the operator.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed description wherein similar characters of reference designatecorresponding parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a rock drill embodyingthe invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIGURE1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 in FIGURE1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 in FIGURE1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 in FIGURE3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 6-6 in FIGURE3.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7-7 in FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a fluid actuated rock drillwhich includes a cylinder 11 having a front housing 12 adapted toreceive the shank of a rock drill 13. A back head 14 closes the otherend of the cylinder, it being equipped with a hand grip 15. This rockdrill is of the usual fluid actuated percussive type 3,988,530 PatentedMay 7, 1963 and is also provided with the usual drill steel rotationimparting mechanism 16.

A bore 17 extends transversally through the back head 14, and hasrotatably mounted therein a cylindrical throttle valve 18, which extendsfrom one end of the bore where it is flxed to an operating handle 19 bya key 20 and retaining nut 21. A gland nut 22 is screwed in the otherend of the bore 17 and has journaled thereon one end of a goose-neckconnection 23. This one end has a beveled head 24 engaging a beveledseat in the nut 22 to form a fluid tight joint therewith, while theother end 25 is threaded to receive the end of a motive fluid conveyingconduit such as a hose, not shown. Near its inner end, the peripheralwall of the throttle valve is provided with several spaced notches, suchas 26, engageable by the rounded end of a detent or plunger 27 slidablein a bore 28 and pressed toward the valve by a compression spring 29resting on a removable plug 30. An axial bore 31 is provided in thethrottle valve, into which is delivered the pressure fluid from thegooseneck 23. From this bore extends a radial port 32, which, as shownin FIGURE 2, is capable of registering with a passage 33 formed in theback head and connecting with a similar passage 34 formed in thecylinder 11. Beside the port 32, the throttle valve has other radialports, not shown, capable of registering with passages leading into therock drill Iii] for supplying actuating fluid therein.

Near the back head 14, the underside of the cylinder 11 is formed with atransversally extending boss 35 having a bore 36 extending therethroughin which is rotatable a feed control valve 37. One end of the bore 36 isclosed by a bushing 38 screwed therein through which extends a valvereduced end portion or shank 39. The shank forms with the valve body anannular shoulder 40 abutting against the inner end of the bushing.Preferably the two abutting faces are provided with interengagingratchet teeth, not shown, normally maintained in interengagement to lockthe valve in any desired position by a compression spring 41 acting on avalve shoulder 42 near the bottom of the bore 36. A reduced valveportion or shank 43 also extends through the other end of the boss 35.An operating handle 44 is fixed on each shank 39 and 43 by a key 45 andretaining nut 46. To prevent leakage of pressure fluid from the valve37, both shanks 39 and 43 carry an O-ring packing 47. A central cavityor chamber 48 is formed in the valve 37, which cavity is capable ofcommunication with the cylinder passage 34 through a radial port 49. Asecond radial port 50 is capable of communication through a valve groove51 with a passage 52 extending longitudinally in the wall of thecylinder 11 as clearly shown in FIG- URE 1. A third radial port 53affords communication of the cavity 48 with a vent or exhaust passage54. 7

Near its front end, the underside of the cylinder 11 is formed with anintegral depending lug 58 having two parallel machined side walls 59 anda bore 60 extending therethrough. One edge of this bore is chamfered ina tampered seat 61. Closely fitted over the side walls 59 of the lug 58,there are the two apertured side arms 62 and 63 of a terminal or yoke 64which forms the outer end of a tubular casing 65. This yoke is pivotallyconnected to the lug 58 by a machined cross bolt 66 extending throughthe bore 60 and the arms 62 and 63. Its head 67 is cut away as at 68 forengagement with a stop 69 on the arm 63 to prevent rotation of the boltrelative to the yoke. The aperture of the arms 62 is enlarged toaccommodate a bushing 70 closely fitting therein and on the bolt 66 andhaving a tapered inner end 71 pressed on the tapered seat 61 by acompresison spring 72 mounted on the bolt and having its compressionadjustable by an adjusting nut 73. Thus it will be understood that sincethe bushing is slidable on the bolt 66 and abuts against the lug 58, thetension of the spring 72 causes the inner face of the arms 63 to bepressed against the adjacent side wall 59 of the lug, thereby resultingin a pivotal connection between the rock drill and feed leg having anadjustable pivotal movement retarding brake.

The tubular housing 65 which is integral with the terminal 64 extendsangularly and downwardly therefrom toward the rear of the rock drill 10,its angle with the yoke being about 120. This relatively long housing isclosely but rotatably fitted on the outer end portion of a piston rod 76which is slidable through the upper end 77 of a feed cylinder 78. Thepiston rod 76 is mostly tubular, but outside of the cylinder 78 itsouter end portion is made of a rod 79 on which is fitted the housing 65.The rod is preferably welded in the outer end portion of the tube 76. Apiston 80 is fixed on the inner end of the tube 76 for islidablemovement in the cylinder 78. This piston includes a cup-shaped packing81, follower 82 and retaining nut 83. The lower end of the cylinder 78is closed by a cap 84 preferably welded in place, and provided with ananchoring pointed end 85 and a foot 86 extending laterally and angularlytherefrom.

Adjacent its inner end, the piston rod 79 is provided with an annulargroove 87 (FIG. 4) adapted to receive the end of a spring pressedplunger 88 slidable in a boss 89 of the housing 65, and having anoutside operating knob 90. The plunger in the groove 87 normallyprevents longitudinal movement of the housing on the piston rod whileenabling relative rotation therebetween. It can, however, be pulled outof the groove to disconnect the yoke 64 and drilling motor from its feedleg. Also provided in the groove 87 and fixed to the rod 79, there is akey 91 (FIG. 7) adapted to fit in a slot 92 provided in the end of theplunger 88, thereby affording a releasable locking device between theyoke 64 and piston rod 79 to normally prevent relative rotationtherebetween. To assist in transporting the feed leg from one drillingplace to another, its cylinder 78 is provided with a handle 93.

Pressure fluid from the valve 37, FIGURE 3, may be admitted into thefeed cylinder 78 through the rock drill cylinder port 52 which opensinto the bore 60 of the lug 58 and also into an annular groove 94,formed on the bolt 66. From there it flows through a U-shaped passage 95into an annular groove 96 provided in the arm 63, and through a passage97 to the inner end of the piston rod 79. Then through a piston rodcentral passage 98 into the piston tube 76 and through a piston port 99to the bottom end of the feed cylinder 78. A small vent 93 extends fromthe port 99 radially through the piston and opens into the inactive sideof the feed cylinder through a port 75.

To assure a fluid tight joint of the bolt 66 with the lug 58 and arm 63,the bolt carries a plurality of O-ring packings 57, while the outer endof the piston rod 79 carries a similar packing 56.

In the operation of the device, with the feed leg retracted as shown inFIGURE 1, the operator holding to the hand grip will balance the drillon the now substantially vertical feed leg. In this instance bothanchoring point 85 and leg 86 may rest on the ground. After positioningthe throttle valve 18 as shown in FIGURE 2 to admit pressure fluid tothe feed valve 37 through the port 33, the feed valve may be rotated tosupply pres sure fluid to the feed leg and effect its extension. To thatend, the feed valve located on the under side of the rock drill near therear end thereof, is readily accessible by the operator, and since it isprovided with a handle 44 on each end thereof, it is operable fromeither side of the rock drill. With the feed valve port 49 in registrywith the port 34, pressure fluid is admitted into the valve chamber 48and therefrom through the valve port 50 and groove 51 to the bolt groove94 via the cylinder port 52. From the groove 94, it is free to flow tothe bottom end of the feed cylinder 78 through the passage-way of thepivotal connection between the drilling motor and its feed leg, whichpassage-Way comprises the U-shaped passage 95, groove 96, and passage97, and thereafter through the piston rod passages 98 and 99. Once inthe bottom end of the feed cylinder, it acts on the piston for effectingextension of the feed leg to bring the rock drill 10 to the desireddrilling position and impart feeding motion thereto as the drillingprogresses. From the port 99 pressure fluid is also admitted on thesmaller side of the piston 80 through the vent 93 and port 75, whichside has a much smaller effective area than the side adjacent the bottomend of the feed cylinder, thereby causing the chamber between the piston80 and upper end 77 to act as a cushion chamber for the piston 80.

When it is desired to retract the feed leg, the feed valve 37 may bepositioned to cut off port 34 from the valve chamber 48, and to registerthe latter with the exhaust port 54 through the valve port 53. In thisinstance, the valve chamber 48 remains in communication with the bottomof the cylinder 78 through the valve groove 51. As fluid pressure isexhausted from the bottom of the cylinder, the weight of the rock drill10 causes the feed leg to retract or collapse.

It will be understood that the drill rig above described may be swung onits anchoring means or 86 within in any direction above the horizontal.It can also be used for drilling downward holes by anchoring its feedleg either in the side wall or roof of the place being drilled. Withrelation to its feed leg, the drill may be swung on the pivotalconnection between the drill and the feed leg or on the axis of the feedleg by disengaging the plunger 88 from the key 91. Because of the offsetyoke 64, the drill can be positioned substantially parallel to its feedleg, and while in that position is free to rotate completely around theaxis of its feed leg.

It will also be understood that the feed leg is readily separated ordisconnected from the drilling motor by simply pulling the plunger 88out of the groove 87 and slipping the piston rod 79 from the tubularhousing 65. When it is desired to again connect the feed leg to thedrilling motor, the above operation is repeated in reversed order.

The details of structure and arrangement of parts shown and describedmay be variously changed and modified without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

'Iclaim:

1. A drill rig comprising a pressure fluid actuated drilling motor, apressure fluid actuated feed leg for said motor including a feedcylinder and a piston longitudinally movable therein having a rodextending through one end thereof, a terminal for said rod extending atan obtuse angle therefrom, connecting means depending from the undersideof said motor pivotally connected to said terminal by a pivot pintransversally of said motor, a feed controlling valve transversallywithin the underside of said motor, an operation controlling throttlefor said motor having pressure fluid supplied thereto, means within saidthrottle for controlling supply of pressure fluid to said feedcontrolling valve through fluid conveying means extending therebetween,and means within the motor wall and feed leg and extending through saidpivot pin controlled by said valve for supplying pressure fluidtherefrom to said feed cylinder.

2. A drill rig comprising a pressure fluid actuated drilling motorhaving an integral lug depending from its underside, a pressure fluidactuated feed leg including a feed cylinder and a piston longitudinallymovable therein having a piston rod extending through one end of saidcylinder, an oifset yoke on the extending end portion of said rod, saidyoke having two side arms pivotally connected to said lug by a pivot pinextending therethrough to enable pivotal movement of the motor relativeto the feed leg, a feed controlling valve within said motor near therear end thereof, an operation controlling throttle for said motorWithin its rear end and having pressure fluid supplied thereto, meanswithin said throttle for controlling supply of pressure fluid to saidvalve through port means Within said motor, and pressure fluid conveyingmeans controlled by said valve leading therefrom through said pivot pinand one of said arms and through said piston rod into said feedcylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGoodrum Oct. 9, 1855 McNelly Feb. 2, 1892 Gilman Aug. 17, 1915 SlaterJuly 14, 1942 Gillerstrom Sept. 9, 1952 Morrison Nov. 20, 1962 FOREIGNPATENTS France Feb. 18, 1911

1. A DRILL RIG COMPRISING A PRESSURE FLUID ACTUATED DRILLING MOTOR, APRESSURE FLUID ACTUATED FEED LEG FOR SAID MOTOR INCLUDING A FEEDCYLINDER AND A PISTON LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE THEREIN HAVING A RODEXTENDING THROUGH ONE END THEREOF, A TERMINAL FOR SAID ROD EXTENDING ATON OBTUSE ANGLE THEREFROM, CONNECTING MEANS DEPENDING FROM THE UNDERSIDEOF SAID ROTOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID TERMINAL BY A PIVOT PINTRANSVERSELY OF SAID MOTOR, A FEED CONTROLLING VALVE TRANSVERSELY WITHINTHE UNDERSIDE OF SAID MOTOR, AN OPERATION CONTROLLING THROTTLE FOR SAIDMOTOR HAVING PRESSURE FLUID SUPPLIED THERETO, MEANS WITHIN SAID THROTTLEFOR CONTROLLING SUPPLY OF PRESSURE FLUID TO SAID FEED CONTROLLING VALVETHROUGH FLUID CONVEYING MEANS EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, AND MEANS WITHINTHE MOTOR WALL AND FEED LEG AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PIVOT PINCONTROLLED BY SAID VALVE FOR SUPPLYING PRESSURE FLUID THEREFROM TO SAIDFEED CYLINDER.